Closure cap and package



V.1. c. Glass 2,032,931

CLOSURE CAP AND PACKAGE March 3, 1936.

Filed April 9, 1932 Zig.

lNvENToR Aid A1l'ToRNEY Patented Mar. 3, 193e PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE CAPAND PACKAGE John o. Gibbs. Brooklyn, N. Y., mainmto Anchor Cap & ClosureCorporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a vcorporation of New YorkApplication April 9, 1932, Serial N0. 604,143

19 Claims. (Cl. 215-56) The` present invention relates to the sealingart, and more particularly to an improved closure cap and sealed packageformed thereby.

Certain products, when sealed, tend to form or generate pressure withinthe package; for example, a product having eiervescent salts therein,rsuch as Bromo-Seltzer, may create a pressure of sixty or more poundsper square inch, depending upon the amount of moisture in the product.Where a glass container is used, such-pressures are particularlydangerous because fragments of broken glass projected by the pressurewithin the container may, in case of breakage, do serious injury to bothperson and property. While glass would probably sustain a substantialinternal pressure, there is always the chance of the container beingbroken by contact with external objects, in which case, the particles ofglass will be blown outwardly with considerable force. Another objectionis that the sudden release of the pressure when the cover is removedtends to blow out some of the contents of the package. lThesecharacteristics, directly attributable to pressure within the container,cause complaints by consumers and, in many cases, cause the consumers tothink that the product is spoiled. Clure caps are sold in enormousquantities, and the cost thereof must necessarily be reduced to aminimum. Any 4slight increase in the cost of caps is likely to causepackers to refuse to use the caps. Therefore, the solution of the aboveproblem, in order to be practical, must not increase substantially thecost of the cap.

The present invention aims to provide a simple, inexpensive closure andpackage, which will eliminate the above difficulties, without increasingthe cost of the package.

yAn object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive closure adaptedto vent a package when'excessive pressure accumulates therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive closureadapted to relieve the pressurein apackage when excessive pressureaccumulates therein, without impairing the efiectiveness ofthe seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive closure capwhich will relieve -pressure in a package and will reseal itselfafterthe pressure has been relieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive sealedpackage which will automatically vent when excessive pressure exists inI it, and will automatically .reseal after the pressure is relieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved 'cap andpackage particularly useful for products likely to generate pressurewithin the package.

Other and further objects of the invention 5 will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment `about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentlo of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration anddescription and is shown in the accompanying drawing,forming a part of the specification, wherein 15 Fig. lis a perspectiveview of a preferred form of the closure cap;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view along the line .2-2 of Fig. l;

Referring again to the drawing, and more par- 30 l ticularly to Figs. 1to 4 thereof, therev is shown a container i, having screw threads orlugs 2 at the upper end thereof adapted to cooperate with similarthreads or lugs on a closure cap. Preferably, the container is made ofglass, although 'other 35 materials might be utilized. The container issealed by means of a closure cap li, having a cover portion t, a.depending skirt t, with its lower edge rolled upwardly and outwardly toform a bead 1. The bead l, in the preferred form of cap, is struck 40inwardly at intervals about the periphery thereof to provide a series oflugs 8 adapted to engage, and cooperate with, the threads or lugs 2 onthe container to secure the cap to the container. A

liner 9 is provided in the upper part of the closure 45` cap and isadapted to engage the rim of the con`. tainer to form a seal thereon.

`In order to obtain maximum sealing pressure between the rim of thecontainer and the cover portion of the cap, an annular groove i0 is pro-50 vided, which concentrates the pressure on the liner over a small areaand thereby increases the effectiveness of the seal. The annular groovei0, which forms a depending ridge for engagement with the liner, ispreferably interrupted at intervals,asshownat II. lheplll'peoftheseinterruptions is to provide one or more points above the rim of thecontainer, where the liners is. not directly in contact with the coverportion of the cap.' The ends of the depending ridge I 0, adjacent vtheinterruptions, sure to seal the package under normal conditions and tohold the liner .l against the rim of the' container at the interruptionsII, The arcuate segments of the groo've Il, shown herein as three, forma series of pressure members which are spaced from each other, leavingshort gaps below which less pressure is applied to the liner. When sucha closure cap is applied to a product which tends to form pressurewithin the container, the seal retains the product in sealed conditionand prevents access of moisture or other extraneous matter. However,when pressure forms inside the package, while the liner is held rigidlyin position by the spaced arcuate gripping portions III, the portions ofthe liner directly below the interruptions II have very little pressurethereon. As a result, the internal pressure within the container forcesthe liner upwardly at I I, as shown in exaggerated form by the dottedlines in Fig. 4, permitting the pressure to leak out very gradually. Theamount of distortion of the liner to relieve the pressure is so slightthat, when the. pressure is relieved, the linerreturns to its sealedposition, preventing access of moisture, orother matter, to the interiorof the container.

By increasing or decreasing the amount that the arcuate ribs Il areseparated, that is, the width' of the gaps II, the cap may beconstructed to relieve internal pressure at ilv'e, ten, or ilfteenpounds, as desired, without impair-ing the eectiveness of the sealagainst the entrance of air or moisture.

In Fig. 5, a slightly modified construction is shown, which diners fromthat shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in that the arcuate depressed grooves III areomitted and one or more upward depressions I2 are made in the cover partof the cap directly above the rim of the container. In thisconstruction, a ilat surface is presented to the liner for pressing itagainst the rim of the container. The pressure applied by the coverportion of the cap is relieved at one or more points bythe raisedportions I2, in the cover portion of the cap. By

, the proper design of the sizes of the portion I2,

the cap can be made to relieve the pressure within the package when aparticular pressure is reached.

In Fig. 6, the present invention is illustrated applied to a closure caphaving a continuous thread I4 in the skirt thereof, adapted to cooperatewith a continuous thread on the upper end of a container.

It will be understood that the present invention may -be applied toother types of screw closure caps, with advantage, although thevpreferred embodiment is particularly applicable to the types shown. Inutilizing the invention, the closure cap is made by the manufacturer,with the spaced sealing grooves III therein and the liner 8 assembledwith the cap. 'l'he packer seals the cap to the container in theordinary way.

When'the cap is screwed home, an effective seal is formed. Themanufacturer of the' cap may regulate the relative position and sizes ofthe sealing grooves Il to permit the package to vent at desiredpressures. Ordinarily, a single form of cap may be used for variousproducts, because it is only necessary to relieve the pressure when ithas exceeded a certain magnitude. ,whichis willy sumcient presgenerallythe same, irrespective of the type of product.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an inexpensiveclosure cap which will vent a product at a desired pressure, withoutimpairingr the effectiveness or emciency of/,the seal against entranceof external atmosphere or moisture. The closure is made from a singlepiece of metal or of other suitable material and the improvement may beembodied in existing machines by changing the construction of the toolsused for forming the caps. The cap may not only be used on packageslikely to develop excessive pressures, but may be used on various typesof products, irrespective of whether or not the venting feature isnecessary with the product. I'he many characteristics are achievedwithout increasing the amount of material used 'for the cap and withoutincreasing the cost of the cap. 'Ihe simplicity of the closure forachieving the result is an important feature of the invention.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacriilcing its advantages, it is to be understoodthat all matter herein is to be interpreted as limiting sense. c

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1'. A screw closure cap comprising the combination of a cover portion, adepending skirt, a liner seated in said cap, means insaid skirt forengaging threads or lugs on a container, and an impervious dis liner insaid cap, said cover portion having a portion thereof pressed upwardlyabove the rim of the receptacle to decrease the pressure on the liner ats'aid upwardly pressed portion tol permit exing of the liner to relieveexcess pressure without entrance of external atmosphere.

2. A sealed package comprising the combination of a container havingthread engaging means thereon, a screw closure cap having a coverportion and a' depending skirt, a disc liner seated in said cap sealingthe container at the rim thereof, and means in the skirt of said cap forengaging the thread engaging means on said container, said cover portionhaving a portion thereof pressed upwardly to decrease the pressure onthe liner and to permit said liner to move out of sealing relation withthe rim of the container at said upwardly pressed portion.

3. A sealed package comprising the combination of a container havingscrew lugs lthereon, a screw closure cap having a cover portion and adepending skirt, the bottom of .said skirt being rolled into a bead,aliner seated in said cap, and lugs formed from .said bead forengagement with the lugs on the container, said cover portion hav ing adepending annular ridge therein positioned to lie vertically above therim of the container and having a radially extending interruption at aportion thereof to decrease the downward pressure on the liner againstthe rim of the container at said interrupted portion to release excesspressure within the container.

y 4. A sealed package comprising the combination of a container havingclosure engaging means l at the upper end thereof, a closure cap havinga cover portion and `a depending skirt, container engaging means formedin the skirt of said cap and a disc liner seated in said cap, the coverportion of said cap having a downwardly depending ridge directly abovethe rim oi' the container adapted to press the 'liner against the rim ofthe container, said ridge being interrupted at a porustrative and not ina.

tion of a container having screw threads or lugs' at the upper endthereof, a closure cap having a cover portion and a depending skirt, anim# pervious disc liner in said closure cap, and'means in the skirt ofsaid cap for engaging the container, and means in the cover portion ofsaid cap directly above the rim of the container for applying an unevenpressure to said liner over the rim of the container and to hold saidliner'ln sealing engagement with said rim, and providing a radialpassage in said cap across the rim of the container, whereby thepressure =on said liner is less at a certain point circumferentially ofthe rim than at others to permit said liner to flex at said portionwhere less pressure is exerted thereon to relieve excessive gaseouspressure within the container.

6. A sealed package comprising a container having lcap engaging means atthe upper end thereof, a liner adapted to seal said container, and aclosure cap having a cover portion and a depending skirt, means in theskirt of said cap for engaging the container, vand an annular dependingrib in said cover portion directly above the rim of the container forpressing portions of the liner downwardly against the rim of saidcontainer, said rib being interrupted at intervals to provide radialpassages across the rim'tc permit said liner to ex upwardly at saidinterruptions and relieve pressure within the package.

7. A screw closure cap comprising the combination of a cover portion, adepending skirt, means in said skirt for engaging threads or lugs on acontainer, a liner of cardboard in said cap, and an annular dependingridge in said cover portion having substantially the same diameter asthat of a rim of a container adapted to receive the cap and positionedto lie circumferentially above the rim4 of the 'container when the capis applied thereto, said ridge being interrupted at a portion thereof topermit the liner to flex at said interruption to vent upon the formationof substantial pressures in the container.

8. A screw closure cap comprising the combination of a cover portion, adepending skirt, means in said skirt for engaging threads on acontainer, a disc liner in said cap, and a plurality of definitelyspaced arcuate projections in said cover portion positioned to lie abovethe rim of a container, said projections having recesses between theends thereof, said projections being substantiallyr deep, therebyspacing said disc liner from said cover portion to provide passagesextending radially above the rim when said cap is sealed on a containerand permitting said liner to flex upwardly into said recesses andrelieve excessive pressure.

9. A sealed package comprising the combination of a container having'cap engaging means thereon, a closure cap having a'cover portion and adepending skirt, container engaging means the container, said recessespermitting said liner to flex upwardly at the rim of the container torelieve excessive pressure within the container.

10. A sealed package comprising in combination, a container, a screw capadapted to be sealed on said container, a disc liner in said cap,

and an annular zone in the co'ver of said cap adapted to press saidliner downwardly at portions in contact with the rirn of the container,saidzone having passages between the cap and the liner, said passagesextending radially across the rim of the container to permit said linerto ilex upwardly at the rim and facilitate venting f the pressure in thecontainer.

'a closure cap ,having a cover portion and a depending skirt, means inthe skirt for engaging said 4container and sealing saidl cap thereon, a'disc liner in said cap, and an annular sealing ridge positionedvertically above the rim of the container, said ridge having passagestherein extending radially across the rim to permit said liner to iiexupwardly in response to pressure in the package.

12. A screw closure cap comprising a cover portion, a depending skirthaving means for engaging a container, a liner mounted in said cap, anda seaiing zone in the cover portion positioned with respect to the skirtso that it is adapted to lie circumferentially above the rim of thecontainer andis adapted to press the liner vertically downwardly againstthe rim, said zone having' radially extending passages therein to permitsaid liner to flex upwardly' vat portions in contact with the rim.

13. A sealed package comprising the combination of a container havingscrew threads or lugs at the upper end thereof, a closure cap having acover portion and a depending skirt provided with container engagingmeans, a disc liner in said closure cap, an annular zone in the coverportion directly over the rim of the container for applying pressure tothe liner to hold it against the rim of the container, said zone havingradially extending passages at portions thereof extending across the rimof the container to permit said liner to flex at said passages torelieve pressure within the container.

14. A metal closure for a container comprising a cap, to be securelyfastened to the container, having inverted radially extending channelsacross its closed end, said channels being of sufcient width and depththat a liner fitted inside of the cap will buckle upwardly into saidchannels upon increased internal gas pressure in the container to allowescape of excess gas or vapor from the container, the liner beingresilient to reseat itself against the rim of the container uponreduction of the internal gas pressure.

15. A metal closure for a container comprising a cap, to be securelyfastened to the container, having a series of inverted radiallyextending channels in the cap crown coincident with the container rim,said channels being of suilicient width and depth that a liner ttedinside of the cap crown will buckle upwardly along its peripheralportions into said channels upon increased internal gas pressure in thecontainer to allow the escape of excess gas or vapor from the container,the liner being resilient to reseat itself against the rim of thecontainer upon reduction of the internal gas pressure.

16. A metal closure for a container comprising a cap, to be securelyfastened to the container, having a series of inverted radiallyextending channels spaced-apartir: the cap coincident with the containerrim. said channels being of sumcient width and `depth that a lineriitted inside of the cap crown will buckle upwardly along its peripheralportions into said channels upon increased internal gas pressure in thecontainer to allow the escape of excess gas or vapor from the container,the liner being resilient to reseat itself against the rim of thecontainer upon reduction of the internal sure.

17. A metal closure for a container comprising a cap to be securelyfastened to the container, l, said cap'having a plurality of invertedchannels spaced-apart in the cap crown along its sealing surface withthe rim of the container, said channels being of sumcient width anddepth that a liner fltted inside the cap will buckle upwardly into."said channels upon increased internal gas pressure in the container toallow the escape of excess gas or vapor therefroin, said liner beingresilient to reseat itself against the container rim upon reduction ofthe internal gas pressure.

18. A metal closure for a container comprising a cap to be securelyfastened to the container, said cap having an inverted channel in thecap crown along its sealing surface withfthe rim of the containensaidchannel being of suiilcient width and depth that a liner ntted insidethe cap will buckle upwardly into said channel upon increased internalgas pressure in the container to allow the escape of excess gas or vaportherefrom, said 'liner being resilient to reseat itself against thecontainer rim upon reduction of the internal gas pressure.

19. A closure for a container comprising a cap, to be securely fastenedto the container, having channels across its closed end adapted toextend over the rim of a container. said channels being of suiiicientwidth and depth that a liner iitted inside of the cap will buckleupwardly into said channels upon increased'internal gas pressure in thecontainer to allow the escape of excess gas or vapor from the container.the liner being resilient to reseat itself against the rim of thecontainer upon reduction of the internal gas pres- Su. V JOHN c. ansias.

